Bar with enhanced rigidity

Abstract

A tool supporting bar for supporting tools on an implement is disclosed and comprises an elongated tubular perimeter wall defining an interior and including a side wall portion. The bar includes a reinforcing wall located in the interior of the perimeter wall and mounted on the perimeter wall in a manner effective to increase bending resistance of the perimeter wall to a force applied in a direction normal to a plane of one of the side wall portion. A method of forming a tool bar comprises providing an elongated tubular perimeter wall defining an interior and including a one side wall portion; positioning a reinforcing wall in the interior of the perimeter wall; and mounting the reinforcing wall on the perimeter wall in a manner effective to increase bending resistance of the perimeter wall to a force applied in a direction normal to a plane of the side wall portion.

We claim: 
     
       1. A tool supporting bar for supporting tools on an implement, the tool supporting bar comprising:
 an elongated tubular perimeter wall defining an interior, the perimeter wall including a first perimeter wall portion and a second perimeter wall portion, each of the perimeter wall portions being substantially U-shaped with a first side wall portion and sections of two other side wall portions each extending from the first side wall portion, the perimeter wall portions being positioned in opposition to each other such that the sections of the two other side wall portions are positioned adjacent, and 
 at least one reinforcing wall generally located in the interior of the perimeter wall, the at least one reinforcing wall having opposite longitudinal edges, the opposite longitudinal edges being mounted on the perimeter wall at opposite locations on the perimeter wall. 
 
     
     
       2. The tool supporting bar of  claim 1  wherein each of the opposite longitudinal edges are positioned at a juncture of the adjacent sections of the two other side wall portions of the perimeter wall portions. 
     
     
       3. The tool supporting bar of  claim 1  wherein the two perimeter wall portions are configured such that a first section of the first perimeter wall portion is separated from a first section of the second perimeter wall portion by a first one of the longitudinal edges of the at least one reinforcing wall, and a second section of the first perimeter wall portion is separated from a second section of the second perimeter wall portion by a second one of the longitudinal edges of the at least one reinforcing wall. 
     
     
       4. The tool supporting bar of  claim 1  wherein the first section of the first perimeter wall portion is connected to the first section of the second perimeter wall portion and the second section of the first perimeter wall portion is connected to the second section of the second perimeter wall portion. 
     
     
       5. The tool supporting bar of  claim 1  wherein the two perimeter wall portions and the at least one reinforcing wall are configured such that a first section and a second section of the first perimeter wall portion are abutted against a first side of the at least one reinforcing wall and a first section and a second section of the second perimeter wall portion are abutted against a second side of the at least one reinforcing wall. 
     
     
       6. The tool supporting bar of  claim 5  wherein the first section and the second section of the first perimeter wall portion are welded to the at least one reinforcing wall and the first section and the second section of the second perimeter wall portion are welded to the at least one reinforcing wall. 
     
     
       7. A tool supporting bar for supporting tools on an implement, the tool supporting bar comprising:
 an elongated tubular perimeter wall defining an interior, the perimeter wall including at least two side wall portions; and 
 a pair of reinforcing walls, each of the reinforcing walls being positioned against an exterior surface of one of the side wall portions, each of the reinforcing walls being attached to the respective said side wall portions in a manner effective to increase bending resistance of the perimeter wall to a force applied in a direction normal to a plane of at least one of the side wall portions. 
 
     
     
       8. The tool supporting bar of  claim 7  wherein the pair of side wall portions are located on opposite sides of the perimeter wall, and the reinforcing walls are located on opposite sides of an exterior surface of the perimeter wall. 
     
     
       9. The tool supporting bar of  claim 7  wherein the reinforcing walls are attached to the perimeter wall at at least three discrete and separated locations along a length of the perimeter wall. 
     
     
       10. The tool supporting bar of  claim 7  wherein the reinforcing walls are welded to the perimeter wall at discrete and separated locations along a length of the perimeter wall. 
     
     
       11. The tool supporting bar of  claim 7  wherein the reinforcing walls are welded to the perimeter wall at at least three discrete and separated locations along a length of the perimeter wall. 
     
     
       12. The tool supporting bar of  claim 7  wherein a plurality of apertures are formed in the two side wall portions of the perimeter wall, and the reinforcing walls are attached to the perimeter wall at locations on the perimeter wall corresponding to the apertures. 
     
     
       13. The tool supporting bar of  claim 12  wherein the apertures of the plurality of apertures are spaced with respect to each other in a longitudinal direction of the perimeter wall. 
     
     
       14. The tool supporting bar of  claim 7  wherein each of the reinforcing walls has a face, the face of each side wall portion being abutted against an exterior surface of one of the side wall portions of the perimeter wall. 
     
     
       15. The tool supporting bar of  claim 7  wherein each of the reinforcing walls has a face, the face of each side wall portion being attached to an exterior surface of one of the side wall portions of the perimeter wall.